Matthew Poon keen to deliver more Joy for Ricky Yiu at Sha Tin on Sunday
Still buzzing from his unlikely Group Two Chairman's Trophy (1,600m) victory aboard Straight Arron, Matthew Poon Ming-fai is hoping to deliver more success for trainer Ricky Yiu Poon-fai at Sha Tin on Sunday.
A week after landing the biggest success of his career aboard $34.5 chance Straight Arron, Poon will look to strike with the Yiu-trained Dragon Joy in Sunday's Class Three Wu Yee Sun And Lee Woo Sing Alumni Handicap (1,600m).
After jumping from double-figure alleys in four straight runs, Poon hopes the benefit of gate two can help Dragon Joy improve on a last-start 12th under Karis Teetan where not a lot went right.
'Of course barrier two helps a lot. The last two times I rode him, I drew outside and this time I've drawn inside, so I think it will make some difference,' said Poon, who piloted Dragon Joy to a win and then an eighth from his two runs before his ninth under Teetan.
Matthew Poon wins his first Group 2! Straight Arron returns to form in the Chairman's Trophy at Sha Tin for Ricky Yiu... 👏#LoveRacing | #HKracing pic.twitter.com/uGu344xq15 — HKJC Racing (@HKJC_Racing) March 30, 2025
'I think the key also is to just let him jump and if he can be closer, I'll just let him do it. I don't think I'll chase him too much, but I've got an inside draw and I won't be too far back.
'He's only a young horse and he keeps improving. He can handle the work and you can see when I won on him, he finished off really well. I still think he can keep improving.'
Four-year-old Dragon Joy faces the likes of Star Mac, Sky Jewellery and Flying Luck in Sunday's finale and Poon is eager to further repay Yiu's faith in him.
'I can't thank the Ricky Yiu stable [enough]. Ricky has given me a lot of good support this season. I need to do my best to get the best results for him,' said Poon, who also rides Little Squid for Yiu this weekend.
Monster run, Dragon Joy! 😳
Matthew Poon sweeps home on Ricky Yiu's charge to overhaul Markwin in the Class 3 - restricted to four-year-olds - at Sha Tin this afternoon... #LoveRacing | #HKracing pic.twitter.com/UjSxM7npQq — HKJC Racing (@HKJC_Racing) January 12, 2025
Also among Poon's book is the Mark Newnham-trained Snowfield in the afternoon's Class Two, the Faculty Of Education Alumni Handicap (1,600m).
A Group One winner over 1,500m and 1,600m in his native Brazil, Snowfield was sixth over 1,400m in his Hong Kong debut and he should enjoy the step up in trip.
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